The issue of ethics is one that has been around since time immemorial. It refers to moral principles that guide human behavior regarding how people are supposed to live and act rightly according to what they believe.
There have been numerous cases where leaders in different sectors of society have engaged in unethical acts such as theft, corruption, and sexual misconduct. In particular, the latter case affects the leadership status of these individuals because it exposes their private lives in public domain. Therefore, this paper will analyze whether a leader can maintain his/her authority despite the exposure of his/her private sexual behaviors.
Ethical Authority
Ethical authority is the ability to influence others morally through persuasion and example. According to Moral Leadership Theory, ethical authority is based on three elements namely moral knowledge, moral character, and moral skill. Ethical authorities are respected because they exhibit high standards of personal integrity, consistently demonstrate good judgment under pressure, embody strong values, and uphold fairness in decision making. As such, an individual who possesses these qualities becomes a role model for others who want to be morally upright.
Nelson Mandela was a global icon due to his exemplary moral leadership skills. He maintained high standards of moral virtue throughout his political life by avoiding corrupt practices and promoting democracy and freedom. This contributed to him becoming an influential figure not only in South Africa but also across the world.
Maintaining Ethical Authority Despite Public Exposure of Private Sexual Behaviors
While some leaders manage to retain their ethical authority even when their private sexual affairs are exposed, others fail to do so. It all depends on how the scandal occurs. A leader who engages in extramarital sex with consenting partners or those who are willing participants remains unscathed as long as he/she does not interfere with his/her work performance.
If the president of a country has sexual relations outside marriage, it will not affect his/her job since most people might accept that as normal human behavior.
When the act involves coercion or unwilling participants, it undermines the leader's credibility and moral authority. An example of this case is when Bill Clinton was accused of having had an affair with Monica Lewinsky while being the president of the United States of America. His sexual encounter was revealed publicly and brought shame to himself, his wife, and his family. At that time, many Americans lost respect and trust in his ability to lead them because of his immoral behavior. The same case applies to Harvey Weinstein, a Hollywood producer whose predatory nature made him lose his reputation and position after exposure. As such, for a leader to maintain his/her moral authority despite public exposure of private sexual behaviors, it takes more than just accepting responsibility for one's actions.
Factors That Determine Maintaining Moral Leadership After Scandal
The first factor is the leader's ability to be accountable for the wrongdoings committed. When a leader fails to take ownership of mistakes they make, it becomes difficult to retain their ethical standing among followers. People tend to admire leaders who acknowledge their weaknesses and accept blame for misconduct. On the other hand, individuals who deny involvement in scandals are seen as untrustworthy, and their leadership integrity suffers.
Michael Cohen's attempt to discredit Stormy Daniels failed to save Donald Trump from criticism since he did not admit any guilt regarding the allegations against him. Another important consideration is how much damage has been done by the act. If the act involves criminal offenses like rape or assault, it is hard for the leader to regain trust due to societal expectations of good conduct.
The victim's reaction influences the level of trust people have on a leader's morality. In Clinton's case, Lewinsky was emotionally traumatized by the incident, which affected her social life negatively. Therefore, it became challenging for Americans to forgive him for his actions. Similarly, victims who speak out about such incidents can influence the perception of a leader's morality because most people see them as defenseless.
Can a leader retain ethical authority despite the public exposure of private sexual behaviors?
While some leaders may believe that it is impossible to maintain their moral authority after engaging in personal acts such as extramarital affairs or sexual harassment, there is evidence that suggests otherwise. One explanation for this could be that followers may not always judge leaders based solely on their personal actions but rather on how they handle those actions in terms of transparency, accountability, and contrition.